SHOKAKEN EISHUN: A BRONZE FIGURE OF AMIDA NYORAI AFTER THE GREAT BUDDHA OF KAMAKURABy Shokaken Eishun, signed Shokaken EishunJapan, early 20th century, Meiji (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926)Well cast seated in dhyanasana, the hands lowered above his lap and joined in mida no jouin (dhyana mudra), wearing a loose-fitting robe opening at the chest and cascading in voluminous folds, his serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes below gently arched brows centered by a circular byakugo (urna), flanked by long pendulous earlobes, the hair arranged in tight snail-shell curls over the domed ushnisha. The base incised with the signature SHOKAKEN EISHUN.HEIGHT 20.7 cmWEIGHT 2,309 gCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, few tiny nicks. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida (Amitabha) and one of the most famous icons of Japan, located on the temple grounds at Kotoku-in in the city of Kamakura near Tokyo. It is also a designated National Treasure, and one of the twenty-two historic sites included in Kamakura's proposal for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Including the base, it measures 13.35 meters (43.8 ft) tall and weighs approximately 103 tons. According to temple records, the statue dates from around 1252, during the Kamakura period, which it is named after.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related bronze model of Amida, signed Akimine saku, also dated Meiji to Taisho period, early 20th century, 29 cm high, at Bonhams, 16 September 2014, New York, lot 2186 (sold for 8,750 USD).